Run-on Sentences

Arun-on sentenceis a grammatically incorrect sentence that should be avoided in academic writing. It occurs when two or more independent clauses or complete sentences are connected without an appropriate conjunction or punctuation. If the student-writer notices that their sentences are long, and each contains more than one idea, they need to find a way of separating the ideas.

There are several ways of revising run-on sentences in English:

To divide a run-on sentence into two shorter sentences by using a use a full stop between them.RIGHT:The professor ran to his office. He had just had an interesting idea.WRONG:The professor ran to his office he had just had an interesting idea.

To use a semicolon between the two independent clauses to make the connection between the ideas clearer.RIGHT:The professor ran to his office; he had just had an interesting idea.WRONG:The professor ran to his office he had just had an interesting idea.

To connect the two independent clauses with some kind of appropriate conjunction.RIGHT:The professor ran to his office because he had just had an interesting idea.WRONG:The professor ran to his office he had just had an interesting idea.

For more information on run-on sentences, please refer to the following sources: